​LOS ANGELES — The Diamondbacks announced on Sunday, July 12, that right-hander Zac Gallen has been placed on the injured list due to inflammation in his right elbow. In his place on the roster, left-hander Mitch Bratt was recalled to start at Dodger Stadium. Manager Torey Lovullo said Gallen informed the club after last week’s San Diego start that he felt something in his elbow. Testing revealed only inflammation, and the team does not yet know how long Gallen will be sidelined.
Bratt will be making his second big-league start. He debuted last month in St. Louis, delivering three innings of one-run ball against the Cardinals. For Reno, Bratt has logged four innings in each of his two most recent Triple-A outings. The Diamondbacks appear to be aiming for a starter’s line in the neighborhood of 60-70 pitches against the Dodgers, though Lovullo hinted that the club would like to keep some relievers warmed up in case of bullpen usage, meaning Bratt could be stretched for a shortened outing even if his pitch count allows more.
In the matchup at Dodger Stadium, Bratt (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will face Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan (4-6, 4.91). Bratt will be making his second Diamondbacks start after being called up to absorb Gallen’s spot on the roster. His major-league debut came in St. Louis last month, when he threw three innings of one-run ball against the Cardinals. He has posted four innings in each of his last two Triple-A Reno starts.
Sheehan’s season has been uneven, with steady results and fluctuating stuff. He has allowed just one earned run over his past two outings, but has logged only 9 1/3 innings in those appearances. He faced Arizona earlier in the season at Dodger Stadium, giving up four runs in 3 1/3 innings and surrendering a homer to Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. He fared better when the two teams met again in June, allowing two runs over 6 1/3 innings.
Upcoming schedule notes include the All-Star break from Monday, July 13 through Thursday, July 16. After the break, games resume with Friday, July 17 at Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Cardinals TBA; Saturday, July 18 at 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Cardinals TBA; and Sunday, July 19 at 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Cardinals TBA.
This recap is based on updates from a Diamondbacks-Dodgers matchup in Los Angeles and includes information on Gallen’s IL stint, Bratt’s role as his replacement, and the forthcoming Dodgers series. The article appears with additional context from game previews and postgame notes. Gallen’s IL designation is now official, and Bratt is slated to start to fill the vacancy in the rotation.